The aim of this project is to bring forward a design proposal for the conversion of a standard ISO Container, trying to take into consideration all aspects like building regulations, climate constraints, security, ergonomics and comfort. The chosen container was the 2350/6058 m size.The location chosen for this project was Ganges Valley, more precisely the GangesDelta, where the environmental problems are enormous, natural hazards happening every day.The Ganges is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The Ganges basin is the most heavily populated river basin in the world, with over 400 million people and a population density of about 1,000 inhabitants per square mile (390 /km2).The Ganges Delta (also Sunderbans Delta or the Bengalla Delta) is a river delta in the South Asia region of Bengal, consisting of Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal, India. It is the world's largest delta, and empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is also one of the most fertile regions in the world, thus earning the nickname The Green Delta.

DESIGN FEATURESPRECEDENTS

The 1970 Bhola cyclone killed 500,000 people

. In 1998, the Ganges flooded the

delta, killing about 1,000 people

and leaving more than 30 million

people homeless

Another cyclone hit the delta in 1991,

killing about 138,000 people

ClimateThe Ganges Delta lies mostly in the tropical wet climate zone, and receives between 1,500 to 2,000 mm (59 to 79 in) of rainfall each year in the western part, and 2,000 to 3,000 mm (79 to 120 in) in the eastern part. The coolest month of the year, on average, is January, with April and May being the warmest months.

METHODS “In this world of energy-related challenges and concern about the global environment and climate, no responsible participant in the building design process can afford to do without one or more IES products. Highly Recommended.” (Jerry Laiserin, Cadalyst Magazine)Building in warm climates can get really problematic, so there are a number of questions that concern the designer: can the building be thermally comfortable without air conditioning? Which are most uncomfortable times in the building and for how many hours/days a year will this going to happen? What kind of insulation is better to use in order to prevent overheating? Will the space receive enough natural light? In the last few years computer generated programs have been helping considerably in taking decisions about the design. It can provide a set of strategies like building shape, orientation materials, shading, day lighting, ventilation, heating and cooling systems.The simulation can be used as a design instrument that reveals strategies such as building form, orientation, materials, shading strategies, day-lighting, ventilation, heating and cooling systems.In order to undertake these simulations I have used the IES software, selecting a real location: Narayanganj, Bangladesh. Based on local data, the software has provided valuable information which has led to the final result.

The aim of this report is to carefully analyze the impact of the climate upon the construction design of the shipping container proposed. Until the reach of the final proposal, several other containers have been analyzed, trying to extract the negative and the positive effects of each like the use of different materials, of shading devices, windows positions etc.Several simulations were taken with the IES software that have led to the present design.1. Simulation 1 - plain container with and without opening

up: pictures of container inside software

sun path diagrams

NORTH ELEVATION

EAST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION -with solar panels

NORTH ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

EAST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

,

On the market there are many architects, engineers who are

dealing with shipping container design.

Architects like: Sean Godsell Architects, Luis Rodriguez

Alonso Habitainer, HyBrid – cargotechture Joel Egan, Adam

Kalkin, Kalkin & Co, Jones Partners, Doug Jackson; Builders

and manufacturers: Urban-Space/Container City, Nicholas

Lacey, Eric Reynolds, George & Harding;

For this project we were provided

with a standard ISO shipping

container and with a recycled

plastic material(left)

For this project I have proposed two

designes that are different through the

number of windows and through the

shadow system.

The first proposal includes a very solid

shadow device that can support a 491 kg

mass of solar panels.

The second project looks more into the

traditional way of creating the shadow

device from local wood like bamboo.

The position of the container is preferably

under the shaddow of a tree, but preferably

not from the south side in order not to

interfer with the solar panels.

The container will be painted in white to

reflect the sun radiation, a ventilation

system will be provided and under the

container ventilation will be also facilitated

The container proposed will offer shelter, being composed from a small lobby, a bathroom and a share room with kitchen and sitting area which can transform itself into study area with a desk or into a bedroom. The whole design is based on minimalist concept, with multifunctional areas that change shape by pulling and pushing.

INTERIOR PERSPECTIVES DAY/NIGHT

WEST ELEVATION

ELEVATIONS; DESIGN FEATURES

2.Simulation 2 – first proposal – container with insulation

and windows 3. Simulation 3 and 4– first proposal,container with

insulation, windows and shading device+air

conditioning

The graphs show the difference between container with and without wndows.

Is notable how the temperature has decreased considerably with the add of windows:

from 56 to 49.70 C.

My first proposal for the project given this winter was the container made of recycled plastic, cavity, insulation, steel and recycled plastic again on the outside .The difference between the last simulation and this one is the use of other materials. Therefore, by changing materials, a decrease of 20C has been recorded. This is not much but is a path to some more improvement. Interpreting the last two graphs, fig 7&8, and looking at the sun cast diagrams as well, I can say that there is not a major difference between the two. The curvature of the mean radiant temperature seems to peak around 12 in both proposals (thing demonstrated in fig 9 as well, when the solar gain is maximum through the open door), the only thing different is the dropping down that occurs more rapidly in the first proposal. It seems that the recycled material and the insulation are keeping the temperature inside for longer.

daylight analysis before installing a

shading device

daylight analysis after installing the

shading device

daylight analysis after installing the

shading device and other windows

on the south side

My first intent was to place the windows on the north

side in order to avoid sun penetration through the

glazing. After installing the shadow device it was

clear that only the existing windows will not provide

sufficient light. In the end, this strategy helped to

improve the day lighting, reaching the minimum

required daylight factor of 2%. From this point of

view, the problem seems to be solved.

The ventilation from the last proposal with more windows

has brought a value of 200 for the air changes.

In order to stop the excessive ventilation I have

reduced the openings value to 10%. The result was

according to my expectations: the number of air

changes was reduced to approximately 20 which is

obviously much better.

Another observation is that the temperature went up

with approximately 3 degrees, another expected r

esult. There is a 6 degrees difference between the

outside and the inside. This shows how the container

is still overheating and acting like a steel box.

After doing those main 3 simulations and analyzing

their results, I have reached the conclusion that

additional help must be provided by some external

air-conditioning devices. It is useless to continue the

simulations considering that under no circumstance

the temperature of the container will be less than the

outside temperature.

An air conditioning device has been installed and

changed the inside air temperature considerably,

maintaining a friendly environment with a

temperature of 23.89 degrees constantly.

I suppose that this the only alternative to cool down

the container.

In conclusion, the impact of this project was remarkable in consolidating our knowledge about climate design, about technical aspects;

The IES software was a really helpful tool that revealed aspects about the climate that probably we wouldn’t have thought about. The position of windows that dictated

the light and ventilation, the building’s orientation (that also dictated light, ventilation, temperature), the walls structure (temperature) etc were all analyzed by this

software and provided us the way to a successful design.

I still believe that improvements may be found, especially because the software didn’t analyze the ventilation under the container, the impact of white paint on the

container, the location of the container besides a tree etc. Maybe these strategies would have contributed to the reduction of the temperature.

The materials we were provided with are cheap and environmentally friendly considering the way they are produced but I believe that sometimes the cheap option

can be forgotten. This is not the best material which can be used because in this case didn’t help in the reduction of the temperature. Moreover, it has kept the high

temperature inside the container for a longer time which is not what I was seeking for. Probably a material with a higher thermal mass would improve the internal

conditions considerably.